Video: Auto driver brutally beats up elderly after he asks him not to spit on road

A simple request not to spit on a public road allegedly triggered a brutal assault in Maharashtra's Thane, leaving a senior citizen with a fractured leg and prompting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to seek an attempt to murder charge against the accused cab driver after a video of the incident went viral.

The incident took place near Jupiter Hospital in Thane West on Tuesday evening when an elderly man confronted a cab driver who was allegedly gargling water and repeatedly spitting on the road.

According to information available so far, the elderly man, who was accompanied by his wife, objected to the driver's behaviour and urged him not to spit in public places. What followed was an argument that quickly descended into violence.

ELDERLY MAN ALLEGEDLY BEATEN, HIT WITH STONE

The victim has been identified as Saroj Dastur, aged around 75-76. His wife, Radhika S Dastur, is believed to be between 70 and 72 years old. The couple, members of the Parsi community, live in a housing society near Jupiter Hospital.

Witness accounts and a viral video suggest the accused, identified as 40-year-old Nishant Shukla, became aggressive after being confronted.

During the altercation, the driver allegedly assaulted the elderly man and pushed him. The violence escalated further when he allegedly picked up a large stone and hurled it at the senior citizen.

The attack left Dastur with a fractured leg and other injuries that required medical attention.

The footage, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, triggered widespread anger among residents and political workers.

VIRAL VIDEO SPARKS OUTRAGE

The viral clip drew sharp reactions, with many expressing shock that a senior citizen could be attacked so severely for objecting to public spitting.

According to a statement from Shinde's office, the accused driver hails from outside Maharashtra and allegedly assaulted the elderly man after being confronted over spitting on the road.

The statement described the attack as severe and referred to video footage showing the accused picking up a stone during the assault.

SHIV SENA WORKERS TRACK DOWN ACCUSED

As outrage mounted, workers from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena launched a search for the accused.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister's office, local party workers traced the driver and later handed him over to Vartak Nagar Police Station.

Local Shiv Sena leader Nitesh "Aau" Patole, the party's Shakhapramukh from Police Line Kharkar Aali, was among those involved in tracking down the accused.

The statement from Shinde's office claimed the workers had "taught him a lesson" before handing him over to police.

SHINDE ORDERS ATTEMPT TO MURDER CHARGE

After watching the viral video, Shinde personally intervened in the matter.

The Deputy Chief Minister contacted Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre and directed police to invoke Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 109, dealing with attempt to murder.

"If a person is brutally assaulted merely for pointing out that someone is littering, it will not be accepted at any cost," Shinde said.

In another remark quoted by his office, Shinde said: "I am seeing the video. He was hit before his wife and both are senior citizens. Is it wrong to ask someone not to spit in open? The driver picked up something like a stone to hit him, he could have died. Make a case of attempt to murder against him. The helpless man has suffered a fractured leg because of him."

POLICE YET TO REGISTER CASE

Despite the political intervention and the accused being brought to the police station, officials said no formal case had been registered till the latest reports because the victim had not yet come forward to lodge a complaint.

Police are examining the viral video and gathering details of the incident.

The assault has attracted significant attention in Thane, a political stronghold of Eknath Shinde, with many demanding strict action against the accused over the attack on the elderly man.